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Interview, Fireside Chat

Has science finally cracked the secret to invisibility?

The EconomistAlok Jha, Professor Sir John Pendry, John Pendry
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  • Metamaterials are expected to generate unprecedented properties absent in nature.
  • A viable invisibility cloak must eliminate light reflection and shadows by guiding light around an object via a surrounding structure.
  • Invisibility materials are predicted to be feasible through a simple recipe, though construction is anticipated to be easier and more cost-effective for radar waves due to larger length scales.
  • The original intent to use an invisibility cloak concept as a sales pitch for transformation optics has already succeeded spectacularly, resulting in widespread public recognition comparable to "Harry Potter" cloaks.
  • The scientific community is expected to initially reject the concept of negative refraction, with proponents facing emotional criticism and potential harshness from peers.
  • Physics derived from invisibility concepts are projected to enable laboratory recreation of conditions found at the edge of a black hole.